“Life isn’t easy. There are always obstacles. In hockey, like in any field, it’s how you face them that matters [qui détermine la suite]. »

• Also read: Canadians: Mike Matheson nears a return to the game

• Also read: CH: Rem Pitlick back

Martin St-Louis is aware that Jonathan Drouin had set a very clear goal before the start of the season: to stay healthy for 82 games.

Unfortunately for the Canadian forward, it took 15 games for that wish to materialize.

Within minutes of Tuesday’s loss to the Devils, the Habs announced the Quebec forward is likely to miss the next four to six weeks of team activity due to an upper-body injury he sustained against the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 5 .

Drouin probably still had that goal in mind and played the next three games, even contributing to two goals. However, his pain threshold seems to have reached its maximum.

“I know he played despite some complaints, but I don’t know at what level,” Martin St-Louis said happily at the end of the training session before leaving for Columbus. I also don’t know if his condition got worse. [en jouant les trois matchs suivants]. »

happiness elsewhere

It’s a huge stone falling on the head of the one Marc Bergevin acquired in exchange for Mikhail Sergachev and a second-round pick in June 2017. Another, one might add, about Drouin not being able to play an entire season in a uniform with the Canadiens since his 81 games in the winter of 2018-2019.

Drouin celebrates his 28th birthday^e birthday at the end of March. The six-year contract he signed upon his arrival with the Canadians expires at the end of the season.

One wonders if this new misadventure will not overwhelm him. Is there a danger of wanting to pull the plug when going through such a turning point? Hence the quote that ends this text. Not to mention that since becoming a father, Drouin has been able to find happiness elsewhere than at an ice rink.

“The best way to get through this is mental toughness. It’s about looking at the bigger picture, controlling what you can control and trying to keep moving forward,” the Canadiens head coach added.

Back to the holidays

If the Canadian’s medical team stays on schedule, Drouin will be able to play again between Christmas and the New Year. Including Tuesday night’s game, Drouin will have missed 19 games.

In the post-2018/19 season, he missed 37 games due to wrist surgery and six more due to an ankle injury.

In April of the 2021 campaign, the Canadian placed him on the injured list to allow him to retire from his struggles with anxiety and insomnia. He missed the Habs’ last nine regular season games and all 22 playoff games.

In 2021/22 he had to sit out about a third of games because of an injury to his other wrist. Once again he had to go under the knife.

To make up for Drouin’s absence, Canadian recalled Rem Pitlick. The latter has picked up three points in three games with the Laval Rocket since the Habs put him out on Nov. 7.